Private diplomacy

Private diplomacy is on the one hand the synthesis of the public science of interests, relationships and negotiations among the states, and on the other hand the spirit of enterprise and private industry: the synthesis, therefore, between an art or craft (rather than a science), and relationships with stakeholders and actors in the world of international business (rather than states). Its aim is to be useful and add value to the benefit of major international clients. It is both a mission–the action of private diplomacy as such–and the object of that mission–returns, results, elements, data and information, which are useful to business. Examples of private diplomacy include notable individuals who have visited North Korea, such as Eric Schmidt and Dennis Rodman.^[1]

Agents

Private diplomats are independent advisers, such as independent professionals. They operate in the occasion of specific missions (travels, visits, explorations) or immersions of longer duration. They are first collectors of economic intelligence, and sometimes, in addition, they may pass messages.

Private diplomats do not act on their own, but under the terms of the missions assigned to them by their clients. Those clients, most often, are familiar with the country where their outside consultants operate. They expect–on time and on budget–reports containing analysis and synthesis–for example on people, networks or processes and operations–in support of their local forces.

Private diplomacy is not a substitute for state diplomacy. It is not intended to provide agents to replace career diplomats (like guards in uniforms who replace the police force in contracted tasks following privatization). Private diplomacy is fundamentally such because it serves private companies.

Conduct

The ethical behaviour of private diplomats is expressed in their intrinsic qualities of discretion, reserve, confidentiality, availability and discernment. Theirs is a prudent conduct, which is done with skill. But private diplomats are not risk-averse. They want to know inside information. They love to mingle with people. They like to wonder and ask the right questions. They are intellectually curious and methodical. According to the well-known example of Newton, apples fell from the trees from all eternity, but Newton was the first to ask why, because he had found the answer.

Language

The language of private diplomats is not a ‘’diplomatic’’ language. At least for their client, it is unambiguous and has no flowers of rhetoric. They write clearly and concisely. They never mention the name of their client (unless explicitly agreed otherwise).

Background and training

Ideally, prior to set up business as independent counsellors, private diplomats have accumulated experience in the public sector–diplomatic corps, military or political offices–and in the private sector–general managers of international companies. They often speak foreign languages, they are ‘’intercultural’’ and have travelled extensively.

References